‘This column,’ Sheridan reported, ‘was opened upon by Bush’s battery, of Sill’s brigade which had a direct fire on its front; also by Hescock’s and Houghtaling’s batteries, which had an oblique fire on its front from a commanding position near the center of my line.’

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When Loomis’ Alabamians came stumbling out of the cedars, Bush’s howitzers and 6-pounders opened immediately with canister and began raking the Rebel columns. Houghtaling’s Battery C, 1st Illinois, and Hescock’s Battery G, 1st Missouri, opened with spherical case shot, walking 12- and 6-pound shells into the massed battalions. The lamentations of brave men rose from the field as the Federal shot and shell played murderously among the Confederates.

The 1st Louisiana hit Sill’s troops first, as Lt. Col. F.H. Farrar, Jr., led the charge into the 24th Wisconsin. The 24th’s commander, Major Elisha Hubbard, counted five battle flags sweeping down on his neophyte soldiers (the regiment had only been activated for four months). His pickets were driven in and right flank threatened when a regiment and a battery from Colonel William E. Woodruff’s brigade on his right suddenly withdrew under the onslaught.

‘I maintained my position,’ Hubbard reported, ‘waiting for orders, until the enemy were in the wood in my rear, and had come on my flank and delivered a cross-fire, doing me considerable damage.’ More than 100 of Hubbard’s young men lay dead and wounded (the 24th would count 174 casualties by the end of the battle) and, with his position untenable, the young major reasoned that it was time to get out and ordered the regiment to ‘break to the rear by companies.’ Amidst the cacophony of battle the command was not heard by all, and an orderly withdrawal became a near rout. Hubbard, perhaps embarrassed, reported, ‘No regiment could have formed line more rapidly than they did, after retreating.’

Meanwhile, back at the 24th’s old position, Colonel Farrar lay dead, his chest pierced by a Yankee Mini bullet. ‘This young officer,’ Confederate Lt. Gen. Leonidas Polk wrote, ‘was one of the most promising of the army, intelligent, chivalrous, and brave.’

The 36th Illinois formed battle lines to the left of the 24th Wisconsin. Positioned at the top of a hillock, the seasoned veterans had an excellent field of fire. Colonel Nicholas Greusel ordered his soldiers to fix bayonets and hold their fire until given the command. When Loomis’ 19th Alabama, with its battle flags whipping in the wintry air, marched to within 50 yards, Greusel ordered a volley delivered. Federal fire drove the Alabamians to ground, and for 30 minutes the men from Illinois and Alabama exchanged murderous fusillades. A gray cloud of gun smoke lay across the hill and swept slowly down among the Confederates.

Greusel ordered the 36th forward with bayonets at the ready. Just then Loomis, commanding the Confederate brigade, was accidentally injured and carried to the rear. The Federals, with fire in their eyes and their muskets and bayonets extended, charged the 19th Alabama. The Southerners yielded, grudgingly at first, then rapidly when the Union assault became general.

Sill galloped over to Bush’s guns to aid in the advance and was promptly shot in the face and killed. Command of the brigade devolved on Greusel, while command of the 35th Illinois fell to Major Silas Miller.

As Loomis’ Alabamians were retreating, Colonel A.J. Vaughan’s home-state Tennesseans came marching through their lines with their scarlet battle flags uncased and a stern, determined look on their faces. Woodruff’s shattered regiments had counterattacked and retaken their old line on Sill’s right. Vaughan’s Tennesseans did not hesitate; they charged up the hill.

On Vaughan’s right, Colonel Arthur M. Manigault’s 4th came through the cedar brakes and cornfields against Greusel or, more precisely, against the 88th Illinois positioned on Greusel’s left. Manigault’s amalgamated brigade of Alabamians and South Carolinians charged directly at the 88th. Colonel F. T. Sherman reported: ‘I ordered the men to hold their fire until the enemy were within short musket range, when, the skirmishers having nearly all rallied on the battalion, I ordered them to rise up and fire, which they did with a coolness and daring worthy of veteran soldiers.’

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